A Â fierce attack yesterday on a Chevron oil facility in Warri North area of Delta State was reportedly repelled by security operatives attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Warri .
Although security sources claimed the militants suffered a number of yet-to-determined casualties, other sources stressed that the militants retreated without any casualty.
The attack by the gunmen, THISDAY gathered, came at the expiration of a five-hour ultimatum said to have been given to the Chevron management and workers at the Alero and Dibi oil platforms in Warri North.
The militants had demanded that the Chevron operation and facility be shut down within five hours, if the company management wished to stave off an imminent attack on the facility.
Hardly had the five-hour ultimatum expired than heavily armed gunmen stormed the facility, but the men of the JTF, Warri, gave the attackers stiff resistance in the ensuing gun battle, it was gathered.
However, in a swift reaction yesterday, Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, accused a militant leader from the area of masterminding the attack. Spokesman of the JTF, Major Omale Ochagwuba, told THISDAY last night, that the security operatives �overwhelmed the attackers with their superior fire-power.
�We said the ultimatum was unacceptable and decided to defend the Chevron facility. �The militants were beaten back and they suffered several casualties, though I cannot give you the exact number of their casualties at the moment.�
Attempts by THISDAY to get the reaction of Chevron last night was unsuccessful as the telephone of the company�s spokesman was on voice mail.
Apr172008